NEWS & EVENTS

The Will to Create 
Opening Soon
 

8/26/2026

Stephanie Hurst | Humanities Chairperson
 

The Olga M. and Carlos A. Saladrigas Gallery at Belen Jesuit Preparatory School proudly presents The Will to Create: a landmark retrospective exhibition of Cuban master sculptor and Belen alumnus Manuel Carbonell ’36. 

A member of the Belen Hall of Fame, Carbonell is regarded as one of the most important Latin American sculptors of the twentieth century. His formative years at El Colegio de Belén in Havana, Cuba, laid the foundation for his life’s work. Driven by religious conviction and a relentless work ethic, the artist channeled adversity into artistic triumph. He maintained an uninterrupted studio practice for over six decades, bridging classical figurative traditions with mid-century modernist abstraction. With undulating contours, volumetric tension, and commanding monumentality, Carbonell’s masterworks express the sublime through timeless modern forms. 

The Will to Create brings the artist back home to his alma mater, contextualizing his practice with a rare selection of preparatory drawings and archival photographs. From his world-renowned public monuments to the liturgical works he created for Belen’s Chapel of the Immaculate Conception, Carbonell’s sculptures are an enduring testament to faith, resilience, and beauty. 

Join us in celebrating a modern master who never surrendered his creative calling and whose legacy reflects the transformative power of art and devotion.  

Manuel Carbonell: The Will to Create is on view from September 10 - October 24, 2026, in the Saladrigas Gallery. Special events include:

 

Click here to RSVP to attend the special events.